GEOG 316 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Perennial Philosophy, Romantic Nationalism, Flag Of Canada
1 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
State: sovereign political entity with boundaries, recognised internationally. Nation: an imagined, self-defined community, always in the process of becoming (meyer"s definition) Characteristics of a nation similarities amongst identified members shared history (if reject any part, seen as rejecting all: john a mac) Myths around historical othering (american manifest destiny *) ceremonies and acts of loyalty that blind people to the nation (service, anthem, etc. ) Primordialist or perennialist: nations are ancient, natural & primal ; romantic origins, people being displaced; longing for meaning outside of the self; heroism in defeat, heroism in dying in battle for nation. Sturm & drang movement, squishing disparate states into one german state. France after napoleon constantly overthrowing rulers who weren"t there for citizens. Nations are bound by common myths, symbols, traditions. Nation is simply a tool by which the state controls the population. The french revolution: not initially about national identity but citizenship; people (egalitarianism). National coherence to unite disparate groups-but citizenship: rights, etc.
